Archived Contaminated fuel?

[BrucePowell]

Never posted before but enjoy reading the posts.



We have a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel.



Truck started knocking/vibrating/smoking. Dodge dealer says contaminated fuel. Could this be from new ULSD fuel? Dealer wanted $6K to clean tank, replace fuel injectors, fuel pump, etc. Truck only has 58,000 miles. Is dealer ripping us off? Truck runs but afraid of future damage.



Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[barbwire]

For that kinda money they should throw in a much better filter system( you know, like a FASS) in for free, and install it for the same price. nothing like buying a new engine because they didn't put on a good enough filter system from the factory, huh!! I feel your pain. However, I could not afford that kinda expence . I think it is a little high.

 

[radar doctor]

Barbwire from North DKT is right they are ripping you. . Try another Dealer... DOC

 

[Loren]

Bruce,



From what I have read, the new ULSD fuel has excellent detergent properties, so my understanding is that it can clean out a lot of sludge that has built up over the years in tanks, lines, filters, etc.



I suspect that it may be the switch to the ULSD that has started your problems, although they may be more serious now, with dirty fuel system components. I hope you can get this fixed a lot cheaper than $6000.



I'll bet that you won't be the last guy to have this problem with the new fuel.



Good luck,

Loren

 

[B.G. Smith]

I think the "Contaminated fuel" response is something that has been prerecorded into the mind of all the service writers at dealerships. I have an 06 with 8,000 miles on it that has had the same problem, took it in twice, got same response both times, all they did was finally add a bottle of their injector cleaner to my tank. It seems to be ok now but haven't driven it much since that happened. How much trash buildup could you have with 8,000 miles. The big problem is that the injectors are very expensive and they are trying everything possible to keep from having to replace any of them. The service writer did recommend to me that I add a small bottle of two cycle engine oil about every other fill up. I have been adding a pint to about 30 gallon since. Wouldn't the injectors be covered under the Cummins 100,000 mile warranty? Maybe not if they were selected by "Dr. Dietz. " bg

 

[DieselDoghouse]

nuthin else to add good advice is above!!

 

[ronstersv]

$8,800. 00 later I went for the same ride. My insurance company paid all but $100. 00. I agree there must be a filter issue here. Dodge quickly switched from a 10to a 7 micron filter. I also noticed that a new filter system is used on 2007 models. I would suggest to everyone to help prevent this issue to be sure they had the dealer put the ribber tubes on the fuel tank breather and switch to the 7 micron filter. If they do have a problem and a code is set have them fix the set code. In my case it was a stuck pump regulator. That probably had some grit in it. I think cleaning it would have taken care the problem. I really think the dealers are having a field day with this contamiated fuel issue and I sincerely wish they would just step up and take care of it without making people and insurance companys pay through the nose just because they can do it.

 

[woodsrat]

I have posted about this before so I wont get into the full story again. The contaminated fuel is just dodges easy way out. A buddy took his truck in and they told him it was contaminated fuel. He brought the truck to me to look at and the transmission was messed up. After we fixed the problem he took the truck back to them to show them the problem and they had red flagged his truck for fuel related problems they are getting about as bad as state farm covering the hurricane victims.

chuck

 

[barbwire]

I would suggest to everyone to help prevent this issue to be sure they had the dealer put the ribber tubes on the fuel tank breather .

What are those?

 

[B.G. Smith]

What are those?

On the later model trucks, I think starting with the 03 the fuel tank has an indentation on top in either end and in the indentation is a vent or rollover valve which will pull air into the tank when the fuel is removed. On some of the earlier ones, there was just a 90 deg. ell, open ended and water and dirt could get into the indentation and be drawn into the tank. The fix by DC was to add a short length of 1/4" tubing (rubber)) to the 90 to get it out toward the side of the tank. bg

 

[Skydiver]

Are the dealers performing an analysis on the contaminated fuel from an independent lab ?

 

[cpeters]

Go back to the station you bought the fuel from! I bought 25 gal of water from an exxon and they bought a new fass injectors and vp44 for my truck along with paying to have the tank removed and cleaned out. If the fuel is the problem the station bears some responsibility... .

 

[georgej]

On another forum a guy was informed his new Dodge truck with less than 1400 miles had cooked a piston due to contaminated fuel. The dealer will not warranty the motor and wants about $22000 to replace it!! I hope this isn't going to be a trend!

 

[georgej]

Here's the post



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Does anyone know of any bulletins out on the 07 Dodges with the 5. 9 Cummins melting the no. 1 piston? I have an 07 crewcab dually with 1,364 miles on it and a melted no. 1 piston and sent the rings into the turbo. It took out the block, injectors, turbo, and the injection pump. The dealership is saying contaminated fuel, so it isn't covered under warranty. I called the department of weights and measures as soon as the dealership said bad fuel. The DWM tested the fuel the very next day and the results were that the fuel passed their test. I just have a hard time believing that water in the fuel would melt the piston. My water in fuel light never came on, the truck just started to get a miss in it, so I got to the closest dealership I could as soon as I could. Any info you could give me would greatly be appriciated.

By the way total cost to fix my truck was $21,748. 17 Half the cost of the truck. If it was the fuel the only thing that is going to save me is that I got a receipt. Without the receipt I would have been up the creek without a paddle. Moral of the story: ALWAYS GET A FUEL RECEIPT.